GIVING NOTICE

Library Administrator's Digest, May 2004 by Robinson, Charles W

Most libraries that I have worked in or know about have a policy something like this: if you are a member of the nonprofessional staff (however that's defined) and decide to resign, you must give two weeks' notice. If you are a "professional," give one month's notice.

This contrasts with what I have heard about the private sector. When you inform your boss that you are resigning, you get two weeks pay and are asked to clean out your desk and leave by the end of the day.

Now, I'm not talking about getting terminated for cause here. Even in libraries that most often results in immediate leaving. But when you leave for a better job, or when your spouse gets transferred to another city, what's the point of staying on the job? Certainly, if you have been around and doing the job, the library should give you two weeks' pay, but why require you to sit at your desk for those two weeks? Training your replacement hardly ever happens - the replacement may not arrive for months, the way slots are filled these days. In many cases, an employee would happily forego the two weeks' pay anyway to start the new job right away - probably for more money.

Of course there's the issue of parties. In many cases your fellow staff members want to give you a sendoff. But you could come back for that, maybe?

Anyway, almost all the people I've talked to would like to get started on the new job just as soon as next Monday, and most of the new employers want you right there right now. Considering that few people give notice that they are going on sick leave, or for that matter, dropping dead of a heart attack, it might be amazing, but no real harm seems to be done at the work place.

And believe me, no one puts his or her real heart into the job after the decision to leave has been made. Or hardly ever.